Handle structures for valves and the like



June 10, 1958 P. F. DANlELsoN 2,838,270

HANDLE STRUCTURES FOR VALVES AND THE LIKE AFiled Sept. 8, 1952 lll/lll man @4m If AN/ELSOM INVENTOR. by m A Trae/VE Y- HANDLE STRUCTURES FOR VALVES AND 'IHE LIKE Application September 8, 1952, Serial'No. 308,339

1i) Claims. (Cl. 251-110) This invention relates to improved handle structures for actuating manually controlled elements, and particularly adapted in certain valve elements. l Y

The general object of the invention is to provide a novelhandle structure which is specially designed to require an unusual type of manipulation for moving a valve or other controlled element a predetermined direction, to thus prevent operation of the element in that direction by asmall child, while at the same time readily permitting its actuation by an adult. .Particularly contemplated is a handle of this character which may be applied to a do` mestic water faucet or outdoorwater valve, tok prevent opening of the faucet or valve by small children.

Structurally, a device embodying the invention may include a rotary handle, a valve or other element to be turned by the handle, and a releasable lclutch connection interconnecting these two parts. The clutch connection is manually actuable between a rst or active condition, in which the handle is `effective to turn the valve or other controlled element, and a second released condition in which the handle Ais rotatable relative to the controlled element.

the handle element or the controlled element. and is releasably interengageable with a shoulder on the other of these parts to rotatably interlock the parts. Preferably, the clutch member comprises a detent pin which is carried by and movable relative to the handle.

. The pin or otherclutch element may normally be urged `to its released condition' by a spring or other-yielding means, preferably having such strength as to require greaterlforce than a small child canexert'to actuate the clutch. to its active condition.y Also, intorderto render` the actuation of the handle veven more diicult to a child,

there may be provided a lock element which is operable',-

until manually*` released, to, positively `retain the` detent Y orA clutch element'against movement to its active position. Thusga combination of several different motions are the condition ofthe clutch connectiomto transmit handle rotation in the second direction tothe controlledelement.

respects for operating rotary The clutch connection 'may include a detent Y or clutch member which is movably carried byeither nite States PatentO icc These ratchet means may comprise a leaf spring rotatable with the handle and acting to engage ratchet teetli on the controlled element.

Certain particular features of the invention have to do with the special formation of the handle structure as a replacement unit adapted tobe applied to the stern of a conventional faucet. For this purpose, the unit may include an element containing al recessV at one axial side into which the stem of avalve or the like is'removably connectable.V To adapt the device for attachment to stems of varying cross-sectional configurations, the unit preferably includes a deformable element, typically formed of a resinous plasticmaterial, which may bev received about the stem and tightened against it into conformance with the stem. This deformable element may be formed as a liner for the recess into which the stem is connected.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig, l is'a side View of a water valve embodying the invention, typically illustrated as the type of valve conventionally provided at the outside of a house for connection to a garden hose orthe like;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the handle structure of the Fig. 1 valve;

. Fig. 3` isa transverse or horizontal section through the valveihandle structure, and taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

-Fig4 is a transverse sectionltaken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; J v

Fig. 5 is aside view of the leaf spring type ratchet element of the valve handle; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through the handle structure and taken on the same plane as Fig. 3, but showing one of the detent or clutch elements of the handle in its activeposition. j v Referring first to Fig. 1, I have typically shown at 10 a conventional outdoor water valve, to which has beenA applied a handle assembly 11 constructed in accordance with the invention. The valve 10 comprises the usual uid ow control valve element 12 carried by a rotary stem 13 which threadedly vengages the body 14 of the' valve at 15. Movement of valve element 12v toward and away from its seat 16 controls the uid ow through passage 17 in the valve body and to spout 18 to which a garden hose is'connectable.

As best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and V6, the valve'handle as semblyincludes an inner element 19 which is fastened to and rotatable with the stem 13, and an outer handle 20 which is rotatable both with and relative to elementl19.. The transmission of counterclockwise orrvalve opening rotation from handle 20 to element 19 andthe valve stem mitted to element 19 and stem 13 by a pair of leaf springs 22., which function as ratchet elements.

f N The stem carried element 19 contains an axially or Vvertically extending inner recess, having a lower upwardlyV tapering essentially frusto-conical portion 23, and an upper cylindrical portion 24. Into the lower portion 23 of this recess is inserted a tubular liner 25, which receives the upper end 26 of valve stem 13.V Element 19 and its liner 25 are fastened tightly in fixed relation tov lstem13 by'a screwl 27,' which is connected into the upper end of the stem, and whose upper head bears against;

3. a washer 2B engaging annularupwardly facing transverse shoulder 29 of element 19.

The outer surface 39 of liner 25 tapers upwardly in correspondence with the engaged inner surface 23 of element 19, and preferably these two surfaces are of corresponding noncircular cross-sectional configuration, to positively prevent relative rotation between element 19 and the liner. For this purpose, surfaces 23 and 30 may have a number of axially extending splines, as brought out best in Fig. 4.

If it is known what type of valve the handle assembly 11 is to be attached to, the inner recess in liner 25 may be shaped in correspondence with the end 26 of the particular valve stem to which it is to be attached. However, in View of the large number of different shapes given to valve stems of diierent makes, it will ordinarily not be possible, where handle assembly 11 is sold as an accessory to be applied to a valve, to shape the liner 25 in exact accordance with the stem to which it will ultimately be attached. Consequently, I usually prefer to form liner 25 of a material characterized by greater deformability than either element 19 or stem 26, and desirably also of an elastic nature, so that upon tightening of screw 27, the liner is fastened tightly about end 26 of the-stem, in a manner conforming to the particular noncircular configuration of the stem, and thus preventing relative motion between the two parts. For this purpose, liner 25 may be formed of a suitable readily deformable resinous plastic material, such as polyethylene. In order to assure most effective fastening of liner 25 to any of various `types of stems, I iind it desirable to give the inner surface 31 of the liner an upwardly tapering, essentially frusto-conical, and axially splined shape, as shown in the drawing.

Externally, element 19 is cylindrical and of a constant diameter except at a location near its upper end, at which the element has an enlarged diameter essentially annular toothed portion 32. This portion 32 of element 19 has a number of regularly circularly spaced radially projecting teeth 33, whose opposite sidesA 34 are angularly undercut in the dovetail fashion shown in Figs. 3 and 6. As will be brought out at a later point, teeth 33 of element 19 are engaged by clutch elements 21 and ratchet elements 22 to control the transmission of rotary motion between handle and element 19. Y y

Handle 20 is of essentially conventional external shape, having an inner hub portion 35 carrying four evenly 4 element. At a location above the head of screw 27, handle 20 may contain an opening providing access to the screw, and into which may be removably threadedly attached a plug 42.

The device includes two individually operable clutch or detent elements 21 which are movably mounted in two opposed projections 36 of the handle. Each of these clutch elements comprises an essentially cylindrical pin extending radially through the corresponding handle projection, and movable radially in the projection between the retracted position of Fig. 3 and the active position of Fig. 6. At its inner end, cach detent pin is cut away at one side to form an angular face 43 corresponding in angularity to aud engageable with the undercut side surfaces at one side of teeth 33, so that in the active Fig. 6 position of the pin, the pin acts to transmit valve opening or counterclockwise rotation of handle 20 to element 19. Preferably, the innermost portion of the pin,

which is movable into the space between teeth 33 in the active position of the pin, has a maximum dimension circularly about the axis of the device only slightly smaller than the minimum circular dimension of the space between teeth of element 19. Thus, the pin cannot be `moved into its active position without tirst being positioned directly opposite an intertooth recess of element 19, with the result that it becomes rather difficult for a child to operate the device.

The outer end 44 of each of the clutch pins 21 projects outwardly beyond the handle projection within which it is received, to be depressible inwardly into active position by the iinger of an operator. The pin is urged radially outwardly to its retracted Fig. 3 position by a coil spring 45 bearing against a flange 46 on the pin, the spring A and flange being received within an enlarged diameter portion 47 of the pin receiving recess in the handle. Flange 46 is engageable with a transverse shoulder 48 formed inthe handle to limit radially outward movement of the pin at the Fig. l retracted position. Radially inwardly and radially outwardly of the spring and ange,

circularly spaced radial projections 36. 'Ihe handle may Y be formed of a suitable rigid and strong resinous plastic material, such as nylon, which may be transparent to permit viewing of the kinternal parts of the device. Preferably, the stem carried element 19 is also formed of such a plastic material. Where handle 20 is made of a plastic, it maybe formed of two molded halves, cemented together along a line 37.

Handle 20 contains an inner recess which is shaped in correspondence with the outer surface of the upper portion of stem carried element 19, except as to the provision of teeth on element 19, so that element 19 tits into the handle in a manner retaining them in fixed axial relation while guiding the handle for relative rotation.Y As will be understood, the various engaging surfaces of element 19 and the handle act as bearing surfaces main-v taining the two parts in the desired relation. YFor instance, these two parts have engaging cylindricalsurfacesrat 38 and 39, above and beneath the tooth portion 32 of the stem carried element, to guide the handle for rotation about the axis of the valve stem relative toV element 19. This bearing effect is supplemented by the provision of partial cylindrical outer bearing surfaces on teeth 33 engaging a cylindrical inner surface of the handle at 40. The handle is fixed axially relative to element 19 bythe provision of transverse bearing surfaces on the two parts at the upper and lower sides of toothed portion 32 of element 19, and at the upper end 41 of that the handle has portions of a diameter corresponding to the pin and guiding it for the desired radial sliding movement. A seal ring 49 may be provided about the pin outwardly beyond tlange 48, to ,prevent the access of moisture to spring 45 and the major extent of the pin. Near its inner end, pin 21 may be provided with a spline or key portion 50'received within a spline recess in the handle to retain the pin against rotation about its longitudinal axis.

I desirably provide in conjunction with each of the clutch pins 21 a lock element 51, which is adapted to releasably retain the pin in its Fig. 3 retracted position. This lock element may comprise a second pin which is mov able transversely of theclutch pin between the Fig. 3 locking position and the Fig. 6 released position. In the Fig. 3 position of the locking element, the inner head of this element moves into a side recess formed in the clutch pin, to beengageable by a transverse shoulder on the clutch pin and limit its radially inward movement. A Small handle `52 is provided at the outer end of locking element 51, for actuating it betwen its active and released positions. A seal ring 53 may be positioned about the locking clement, to supplement the effect of seal ring 49 in preventing access of moisture to the working mechanism. Thisring may be so constructed as to. oler a small amount of frictional resistance to axial displacement of locking element 51, to thus retain the locking element against accidental actuation in either direction by mere turning of the'handle. For this purpose, ring 49 may tendV to resilientl'y return to an internal diameter smaller than the externaidiameter of the locking element.

The two handle projections 36 between those containing clutch pins Z1 are recessed to contain the leaf spring ratchet element, 22, which control actuation of the valve ratchet elements has an inner angularly extending portion 54, which is engageable vwith teeth 33 of stem carried element 19 at sides of the teeth'oppo'site thosefacted against by clutch pins 21. Thus, the leaf springs transmit rotary motion in a valve closing or counterclockwise direction from handle 20 to the stem carried element`19, while at the same time being yieldingly defiectible outwardly upon reverse or valve opening rotation, to permit rotation of the handle in the valve opening direction independently of element 19.

Each leaf spring ratchet element 22 has a curved portion S which is positioned but free for limited movement within a restricted curved portion 56 of the spring receiving recess in the handle, Outwardly beyond its curved portion 55, the spring has a portion 57 extending diagonally across an enlarged portion of the handle recess, and terminating within a notch 58, which retains the outer end of the spring against substantial movement. As will be understood, the portion 57 of the spring provides most of the yielding force for urging its inner portion 54 into a ratchet type of engagement with the toothed portion of element 19. So that outer portion 57 of the spring may be more resilient than the inner tooth-engaging portion S4, portion 57 is desirably of a reduced axial dimension, as brought out in Fig. 5.

In applying the illustrated handle unit to a conventional valve, it is necessary merely to remove the original handle of the valve, and then place element 19 and its removable liner 25 about the end of the valve stem, after which screw 27 may be tightened into the end of the valve stem, and plug i2 screwed into the upper handle opening. The handle 2G will then be effective at all times to rotate stem 13 in a.valve closing direction, while permitting free rotation of the handle relative to the stem in, a valve opening direction. In order to render the handle effective also to open the valve, one of the clutch pins 21 must be moved and held inwardly to engage and act against one of the teeth 33 of element 19. Spring 45 may be of such strength as to render it difficult for a small child to move the clutch pin to its active position. Also, the locking elements 51 may be actuated to their locking positions, to require that one of these elements be released before one of the clutch pins may be actuated to a valve opening position.

I claim:

1. A handle unit for actuating a valve having a rotary actuating stem movable in predetermined opening and closing rotary directions, said unit comprising a first member containing a recess for receiving an end of said stem,'

means for securing said member on said stem and against withdrawal therefrom, a handle mounted to said first member for rotation therewith and relative thereto about the stem axis, a ratchet connection between said handle and said first member acting to transmit rotary motion from the handle to said first member in said closing direction but not in said opening direction, a manually actuable clutch element movable relative to said handle and said member between a released position and an ac-` `tive position in which said element transmits rotaryv rnotion in said opening direction from the handle to said first member and stem, said handle being rotatable independently of said first member in said opening direction when said clutch element is in released position, and a spring yieldingly urging said clutch element to said released position and resisting its actuation to said active position to thereby prevent Aopening movement of the valve stem by small children.

2. Arhandie unit as recited in claim l, in which said ratchet connection comprises means on said first member forming a series Yof ratchet shoulders, and a leaf spring contained within a recess in the handle and engaging said shoulders inra ratchet connection.

3. A handle unit as recited in claim 1, Yincluding a lock element movably carried by the handle and operable to releasably prevent actuation of said clutch element from released to active position.

4. A handle unitas recited in claim 1, in which said handle has a hub 'portion disposed about said first member, and said handle has a pair of circularly ,oset projections extending essentially radially outwardly from said hub portion, said clutch element extending and moving radially within a first of said projections and projecting therefrom for manual actuation, and said ratchet connection having a portion received Within the second projection. v

`5. A handle unit asv recited in claim 1, in which said first'member has a series of teeth formed thereon, said clutch element being movable radially into and out of interengagement with said teeth', said teeth having ratchet shoulders at one side, and said ratchet connection comprising a ratchet element movable relative to said handle and engageable with said ratchet shoulders on the teeth.

6. A handle unit as recited in claim 5, in which said handle has two circularly spaced essentially radial projections, said clutch element comprising a pin extending and moving essentially radially in a rst of said projections and projecting from an outer end thereof for manual actuation, said ratchet connection comprising a leaf spring contained within a recess in the second of said handle projections and engaging said teeth, said device including a lock element movably carried by the handle and operable to releasably lock the clutch element against radially inward movement toward said active position of engagement with said teeth.

7. Al handle unit as recited in claim l, in which said recess in said first member extends entirely axially therethrough, and said means for attaching said member to the stem is a screw insertible axially into the stem through said recess and holding the member against axial removal from the stem. p

8. A valve structure comprising a valve element having an actuating stem rotatable in opening and closing ldirections, a first member containing a recess receiving an end of said stem, means securing said member onrsaid stem and against withdrawal therefrom, a handle mounted to said first member for rotation therewith and relative thereto about the stem axis, a ratchet connection between said handle and said first member acting to transmit rotary motion from the handle to said first member in valve closing direction but not in valve opening direction, a manually actuable clutch element movable relative to said handle and said member between a released position and an active position in which said element transmits rotary motion in valve opening direction from the handle to said first member and stem, said handle being rotatable independently of said first member in said valve opening direction when said clutch element is in released position, and a spring yieldingly urging said clutch element to said released position and resisting its actuation to said active position to thereby prevent opening of the valve by small children.

9. A handle unit as recited in claimvS, including a lock element movably carried by the handle andv operable to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stevens Nov. 3, 1931 Plymale June 8, 1875 (Other references on following page) 1 1 l s UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,121 Newton Nov. 17, 1925 warn *mi :Decl Davls 52"- Aug 9: 1 1,897,854 Myers l Feb. 14, 1933 710,129 Watrous Sept. 30, 1902 1 4 f 1 2,032,335 Slmpson L Teb. 25, 1936 993,714 Popp May 3o, 1911 2061811 Sink N y, D o Ov. 24, 1936 110401327 Houls Oct- 8, 1912 ,2 096 438 Rockwell Oct 19 1937 l 1,081,968 Kitts. Det. 23, 1913 9' ,406,220 Hmes Aug. 20, 1946 1,162,935 Lange Dec. 7, 1915 2,521,419 Sellers Sept. 5, 1950 1,479,377 Stengel' APr- 11 1916 2223139 Whiteley NOV 8 1955 1,352,631 RipSch et al. Sept. 14, 1920 10 1,367,500 Redman Feb. 1, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS 

